Wedding Details

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Real Wedding Description

There is something to be said about guests at a wedding being commanded to entertain the bride and groom, or callah and chosson, and make them happy on their wedding day. Imagine hundreds of people singing and dancing and feting this couple for hour upon hour. That is an Orthodox Jewish wedding in a nutshell. Unadulterated, pure joy.

Rachel and Sam start the wedding separate in the kabbalat panim and tish. Rachel, flanked by the mothers and grandmothers, receive the well-wishes of many guests awaiting Sam to appear. While Sam accepts the ketubah, the fathers and witnesses attest to its terms. The singing and dancing begins, and with trumpets blaring Sam is escorted to his bride to veil her.

Every time I photograph the bedecken, veiling, I get a rush and goosebumps. The energy and emotion in the room as hundreds of people watch Rachel receive Sam is indescribable. Tears of happiness from everyone as the songs get louder and the cheers overwhelm your senses. My favorite part of the day.

The whole day goes on like this with the couple going nowhere without a singing and cheering escort. When the schtick starts the exuberance of the performances always shock people who have never been to this type of wedding. If allowed, something always ends up on fire, in this case a hat. But it is always controlled.

For the men the dancing is like a mosh pit, and for the women a hug-fest. No other type of wedding leaves me so exhausted or with so many photos to sift through. Sam and Rachel’s wedding was the true expression of joy.